Honda has revealed the specifications for its all-new 2013 Accord, which features a brand new lineup of "Earth Dreams" engines. The next generation Accord also features fresh styling inside and out and plenty of standard equipment, which marks a vast departure from Honda's typically stingy behavior when it comes to base vehicles.

When it comes to powertrains, the highlight is Honda's new 2.4-liter direct injected, four-cylinder engine that generates 185hp. When paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, it's rated at 24 mpg city and 34 mpg highway (28 mpg combined). However, opting for Honda's all-new continuously variable transmission (CVT) bumps those numbers to 27 city and 36 mpg highway (30 mpg combined).

While those numbers are quite good for a midsizer, they still don't quite match the numbers laid down by the 2013 Nissan Altima (27 mpg city/38 mpg highway).

The company's 3.5-liter V6 has also been revised to deliver 21 mpg city and 34 mpg highway (25 mpg combined).

Other changes tucked away include a switch to electric power steering to improve fuel efficiency and a switch to a MacPherson-strut front suspension instead of the double wishbone design that has been a hallmark of the Accord. Honda claims that the move to struts improves ride/handling while also reducing interior noise levels.

2013 Honda Accord Sport

As previously mentioned, base Hondas are typically very spartan machines with few amenities. However, Honda is changing that with the new Accord by including Bluetooth, USB/iPod integration, and a rear-view camera. However, we feel that the last inclusion is more likely due to the government's regulations on rear sight lines than its generosity.

On one final note, Honda also released a bit of information on the Accord plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The Accord PHEV features a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine which uses the Atkinson cycle. It generates 137hp and is paired with a 124 kW electric motor (total system power is 196hp) and a 6.7 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Honda says that the Accord PHEV can travel 10 to 15 miles with a fully charged battery before the gasoline engine has to kick in. Maximum driving range is listed at 500 miles.

We've also got a few pictures of the Accord PHEV. Let’s just say that it looks… interesting to put it nicely.